One Clever Amendment Deserves Another

Roy Blunt and some of his friends on the right are very excited about Blunt's latest plan attempt to score cheap points in the health care debate.

Blunt wants to require Members of Congress and the President to join a public health care option if it's included in a health care reform package passed this year by Congress. I think it's a good idea.

A public health care option is a great idea for expanding access to affordable health care -- which is why the overwhelming majority of Americans think such an option should be included in Congress' reform plans. Moreover, the Cadillac benefits packages in Congress insulate Members from the real struggles going on "out here." In fact, Roy Blunt is a perfect example of a Congressman who lacks a very basic understanding of the challenges faced by people not in Congress.

While Blunt's in the mood for clever amendments, I have a great follow-up idea: Eliminate publicly-funded health care plans for Congress entirely. After all, government "should have never have gotten in the health care business" in the first place, right? Congress should be allowed to experience the joys of the marketplace unencumbered by their taxpayer-financed health insurance.